Religion as a centripetal force, unifying the masses

[perfect_fat]

The line was crossed in the first King James revision of the Bible. Did you know that in the orignal King James version, one of the Ten Commandments was "Thou shalt commit adultery" ?

By force, I mean scare them into believing.

A 7 foot, 400lbs man on PCP walks up to you and tells you that you're going to lick the ground, or die a slow painful death, which would you do?

A guy tells you that an almighty, all knowing, all powerful being will send you to burn and suffer for all of eternity if you don't believe what he tells you to, and act like he tells you to.

Some people are forced by their parents to be religious no matter how much it crushes them. They're beaten and humiliated by the people that say they love them.

That's the force that I'm talking about.

[aleco]

The line was crossed in the first King James revision of the Bible. Did you know that in the orignal King James version, one of the Ten Commandments was "Thou shalt commit adultery" ?

That's strange. I meant the line between where God accepts people or not though.

By force, I mean scare them into believing.

A 7 foot, 400lbs man on PCP walks up to you and tells you that you're going to lick the ground, or die a slow painful death, which would you do?

A guy tells you that an almighty, all knowing, all powerful being will send you to burn and suffer for all of eternity if you don't believe what he tells you to, and act like he tells you to.

Some people are forced by their parents to be religious no matter how much it crushes them. They're beaten and humiliated by the people that say they love them.

That's the force that I'm talking about.

That is a strong force. I haven't come into contact with much of that. I think people should be told but like gently and kindly and stuff.

[perfect_fat]

Abstract reference, but the simpsons!!! Lisa becomes a buddhist.

The christian community rallies together to convert her back the "winning team." They entice her with gifts etc.

Heaven is the greatest gift, and is based on a promise from a book written over 2 thousand years ago. Most science from even 500 years ago has been disproved, yet people have held onto this belief with unwavering faith.

That's strange. I meant the line between where God accepts people or not though.

With Christianity, isn't Everybody suppossed to be forgiven if they give themselves to Christ?

[aleco]

Yeah, but I was talking about other religions. I don't know much about other beliefs, but if anyone accepts Christ, even if they don't call themselves Christians, then they are forgiven.

[Anonymous]

As I understand it, Athiests just don't have a belief in God but are open-minded on the subject of religion.


Agnostics would justify the absurdity of a God until hours after their deaths.

Er... I think you have your non-religious types mixed up. An atheist is one who has an adamant belief that there exists NO deity at all. No God or Goddess. Maybe they believe strictly in science or maybe they're not sure what really is going on, but they're pretty damn sure that God can't exist.

An agnostic, which is what I am, has a lack of belief, or believes that they don't have enough evidence to make an assumption about God. Agnostics don't know whether God's there or not, and sometimes they just don't care.

I'm what I like to call an agnostic atheist, which means that I tend toward the idea that there is not a God, but I'm not sure. After all, I'm only human.

[ChEeKyGaTo]

fact: the average atheist will defend their beliefs much more fervently than those who believe in religion. As history proves, a fervent belief in anything is just begging for trouble.

Ever heard of anti-God groups blowing up buildings and terrorizing members of different churches?


As I understand it, Athiests just don't have a belief in God but are open-minded on the subject of religion.


Agnostics would justify the absurdity of a God until hours after their deaths.


I believe that even if there is a God, religion is an institution of corrupt, power hungry men, who try to force people to be like them. I don't see anything wrong with believing in God, but I do see something wrong with telling everybody else their religion is wrong and that their interpretation of the Gospel is the only true word and that all other Christians are evil.

Thats right, I will defend my Atheist beleifs to the death, isnt that what beleifs are about?

[Jam930]

Beautiful words Spec.

Not thinking outside the box, but thinking in a better one.

[talisman]

In my opinion, any attempts to personify God are invalid. I mean, it's possible, I suppose, that there is a guy up there somewhere pulling all the strings, but I think it's rather improbable.

I like to think of God as simply being the reason that everything is the way it is.

Religion attempts to define God with a fixed sort of doctrine, which is why I shy away from it and tend to respect science more, which, through trial and error, represents the process of identifying the workings of God.

And I never think we will truly understand God, meaning we won't understand why everything is the way it is, because science, as a process, is much like a curve approaching an asymptote, yet never quite reaching it.

And I also agree that viewing religion as a social force is extremely valid. I think it would be interesting to see what religion people would choose if none of them were exposed to any until they were 18 or something.

[alvask8er]

""No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."
-George Bush

[trillobyite]

Religion can be a beautiful and a deadly thing. I favor those who follow their reiligion without putting too much emphasis on it, because to me it means that they have faith in it in their hearts, but they don't rely on it for every aspect of their life. It can unify and bring people together in celebrations and to thank God or anyone who is sustaining the world with life. However, it can also unify extremists into terrorist groups tha believe that anyone who does not have faith in their religion should die. If everyone could just learn to accept other people's beliefs and stick with their own, this world would have much less problems. Unfortunately, there are many who believe that religion is the sole factor one should care about in life and that everything they do towards it is correct no matter what.

[COBOL]

Spec its "Centrifugal" not centripetal

[aleco]

It's not though

[fusi0n]

If we were to prove that God existed, She would cease to exist.

She? GOD IS A she? That is an interesting belief.

lol. For some strange reason, I don't think that's what he meant, gee I dunno.

""No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."
-George Bush

That is absolutely rediculous.

[Specforces]

Centrifugal is a force that divides, centripetal is a force that draws. don't be an asshat in my threads.